Reflecting device



y 1931. H. F. DELMANHORST REFLECTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1928 INVENTOR.Herman fiedcrieii'DeZmanhorsT,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 26,; 1931 V UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE HERMAN FREDERICK DELMANHORST, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY,ASSIGNOB, IBY EESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LOUISVILLE FROG, SWITCH & SIGNALCOMPANY, 01 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION REFLECTING DEVICEApplication filed May 5,

This invention relates to a'lens cap, holder or carrler for use inconnection with reflecting devices of that type whereby incidentalelements of the latter together to provide a unit, and further with thecap, holder or carrier serving as a means for securing the unit to theb]ect in which it is to be placed, that is the base of a Si or signal. Afurther object of t e invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a' lens cap, holder or carrler for a reflectlngde-' vice in a manner whereby a reflector and a large part of the lens,forming elements of the reflecting device are enclosed.

A further object of the invention is to rovide in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a

ens cap, holder or carrier for a reflecting device in the form of ascrew base which permits it to be screwed into a lamp socket or otherdevices of analogous character.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier for a reflectingdevice having a closed inner end and with its body portion threadedpermitting it to be screwed into a socket for anchoring the reflectordevice in position. Further objects of the invention are to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier for areflecting device and which is simple in its construction andarrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly eflicient in its use, havinginherent means for anchoring the device 111 a socket, and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture. With the foregoing and other objects in viewthe invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood 50 that changes, variationsand modifications 1928. Serial No. 275,485.

can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views Figure 1 is an elevation of areflecting device showing the adaptation with the lens thereof of a cap,holder or carrier therefor in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cap, holder or carrier andfurther illnstrating the lens secured thereto and with the lens inelevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a reflecting device having as a partthereof the lens cap, holder or carrier in accordancewith thisinvention.

lfigure 4 is ure 2.

The lens cap, holder or carrier is hereina section on lineal- 1 Figaftertermed a holder, Thelens as illustrated is of the bi-convex type and isreferred to generally at 5. The lens includes a cylindrical body portion6 of appropriate length, an outer end 7 of convex curvature and an innerend 8 of convex curvature. The'lens 5 is of greater length than theholder.

The holder consists of a hollow body open at its outer end and closed atits inner end. The holder is generally indicated at 9 and includes abody portion formed of a threaded part 10 and a non-threaded part 11. Inlengthwise section the part 10 is of materially greater length than thepart 11 and the latter is offset with respect to the inner face 7 of thepart 10.

As the-part 10 is threaded the portions of smallest inner diameterthereof snugly engage the body portion 6 of the lens 5. The part 11 ofthe body portion of the holder 9 is spaced from the body portion 6 ofthe lens 5.

The closed inner end of the holder 9 isindicated at 12 and is of convexcurvature. The inner face of the inner end 12 of the holder 7 isprovided throughout with a. reflecting medium and which may be of anycharacter desired, but preferably the inner face of the end 12 issilvered or otherwise provided with means, as indicated at 13 toconstitute a reflector.

The reflector 13 and inner end 12 conform to the contour of the innerend 8 of the lens 5. The reflector 13 is co-extensive with the inner end8 of the reflector and said inner end 8 is engaged throughout by thereflector.

The part 11 of the body portion of the holder 9, in connection with thebody por tion 6 of the lens 5 provides a pocket in which is positioned asecuring and sealing medium 14 which secures the holder and lenstogether and also seals the threaded part 10 of the body portion of theholder 9 so as to prevent moisture or other foreign matter from gettingin contact with the reflector and ultimately destroying the reflectingqualities of the latter.

The body portion 6 of the lens 5 is of greater length than the holder 9whereby when the latter is secured to the lens 5 a part of the bodyportion 6 of the latter will project from the outer end of holder 9. Theconstruction of the holder 9 permits the unit or reflecting device to bescrewed into a lamp socket or other analogous devices of this kind. Itenables one to take the lamps out of an electric sign and screw thereflecting unit in place.

The reflecting unit is commonly used in the construction of roadindicators and other signs which at night are illuminated or renderedvisible by the reflection of light coming from the lamps of motorvehicles or some other extraneous source. The unit can be arranged inany manner desired. Although the unit is designed primarily forroadindicators and other signs, yet it is to be understood that it can beemployed. for forming symbols, letters, figures and also in connectionwith buoys or for any other purposes for which it is found applicable.

The lens employed may be of plano-convex, bi-convex or convex-concavecontour.

The body portion of the holder may if desired, be threaded throughout,that is to say,

from the point of joinder of the body portion with the closed inner endof the holder to the outer open end thereof, and cemented to the bodyportion of the lens. The cement being of a character to constitute aseal to prevent moisture or foreign matter coming in contact with thereflector to destroy its reflecting qualities.

It is thought the many advantages of a reflecting device or unit inaccordance with this invention, more particularly the lens holderforming an element thereof, can be readily understood, and although thereferred embodiment of the invention is as il ustrated and described,yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of constructioncan be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a reflecting device for removable connection to a threadedsupport, the combination of a holder open at its outer end and closed atits inner end, said holder having its body portionformed of a threadedpart and a non-threaded part, a lens body positioned within andprojecting from the open end of said holder, said non-threaded partarranged at the outer portion of the holder and spaced from the lensbody, said threaded nart snugly engaging said lens body and inconnection with the latter and said non-threaded part providing a pocketat the outer portion of the holder, a reflecting medium within said bodyportion at the closed end thereof and opposing the inner end of the lensbody, and a combined lens securing and threaded part sealing meanswithin said pocket.

2. In'a reflecting device for removable connection to a threadedsupport, the combination of a holder open at its outer end and closed atits inner end, said holder having its body portion formed of a threadedpart and a non-threaded part, alens body positioned within andprojecting from the open end of said holder, said non-threaded partarranged at the outer portion of the holder and spaced from the lensbody, said threaded part snugly engaging said lens body and inconnection with the latter and said non-threaded part providing a pocketat the outer portion of the holder, a reflecting medium within said bodyportion at the closed end thereof and opposing the inner end of the lensbody, and a combined lens securing and threaded part sealing meanswithin said pocket, the largest outer diameter of said threaded partbeing the same as the outer diameter of said non-threaded part.

3. In a reflecting device for removable connection to a threadedsupport, the combination of a holder open at its outer end and closed atits inner end, said holder having its body portion formed of a threadedpart and a non-threaded part, a lens body positioned within andprojecting from the open end of said holder, said non-threaded partarranged at the outer portion of the holder and spaced from the lensbody, said threaded part snugly engaging said lens body and inconnection with the latter and said non-threaded partproviding a pocketat the outer ortion of the holder, a reflecting medium wit in said bodyportion at the closed end thereof and opposing the inner end of the lensbody, a combined lens securing and threaded part sealing means withinsaid pocket, the largest outer diameter of said threaded part being thesame as the outer diameter of said non-threaded part, and said threadedpart having different inner diameters, said difi'erent inner diametersof said threaded part being less than the inner diameter of saidnon-threaded part.

4. In a reflecting device a lens receiving holder open at its outer endand closed at its inner end, said holder having its body portion formedof a threaded part and a non-threaded part, said non-threaded partarranged at the outer portion of the holder and of materially greaterinner diameter than the outer diameter ofthe lens received in theholder, said threaded part of an inner diameter to snugly engage thelens received in the holder, and a reflecting medium positioned withinthe body portion against the inner face of the closed inner end thereof.

5. In a reflecting unit for removable connection with a threadedsupport, the combination of a cylindrical holder open at its outer endand closed at its inner end, said holder having its body portion formedof a threaded part and a non-threaded part, said threaded part inlengthwise section being of greater length than said non-threaded part,a lens body extending into and projecting from said holder, saidnon-threaded part arranged at the outer portion of the holder and spacedthroughout the lens body, said threaded part snugly engaging said lensbody and in connection with the latter and said non-threaded partproviding a pocket at the outer end of the holder, a reflecting mediumwithin said body portion at the closed end thereof and opposing theinner end of the lens body, and a combined lens securing and threadedpart sealing means within said pocket.

6. In a reflecting unit for removable connection with a threadedsupport, the combination of a cylindrical holder open at its outer endand closed at its inner end, said holder having its body portion formedof a threaded part and a non-threaded part, said threaded part inlengthwise section being of greater length than said non-threaded part,a lens body extending into and projecting from said holder, saidnon-threaded part arranged at the outer portion of the holder and spacedthroughout the lens body, said thread- 45 ed part snugly engaging saidens body and in connection with the latter and said nonthreaded partproviding a pocket at the outer end of the holder, a reflecting mediumwithin said body portion at the closed end thereof 50 and opposing theinner end of the lens body, and a combined lens securing and threadedart sealing means within said pocket, the argest outer diameters of saidthreaded part being the same as the outer diameter of said 55non-threaded part.

7. In a reflecting unit for removable connection with a threadedsupport, the combination of a cylindrical holder open at its outer endand closed at its inner end, said 60 holder having its body portionformed of a ranged at the outer portion of the holder and spacedthroughout the lens body, said threaded part snugly engaging said lensbody and in connection with the latter and said nonthreaded partproviding a pocket at the outer end of the holder, a reflecting mediumwithin said body portion at the closed end thereof and opposing theinner end of the lens body, a combined lens securing andthreaded partsealing means within said pocket, the largest outer diameters of saidthreaded part being the same as the outer diameter of said nonthreadedpart, and said threaded part having diflerent inner diameters, saiddifferent inner'diameters of said threaded part being less-than theinner diameters of said nonthreaded. part.

8. In a reflectin device, a lens holder comprising a hollow flody openat its outer end and closed at its inner end, said body formed with aninner threaded part and an outer nonthreaded part, said threaded partterminating at one end in said closed inner end of said hollow body,said non-threaded part being ofl'set with respect to the 'portions ofsmallest inner diameters of said threaded part, said non-threaded partin lengthwise section being of materially less length than said threadedpart in lengthwise section, said parts coacting to provide a support fora combined securing and sealing medium adapted to be positioned in saidhollow body and further actin as a seal for said threaded part.

9. n a reflecting device, a lens holder comprising a hollow body open atits outer end and closed at. its inner end, said body formed with aninner threaded part and an outer non-threaded part, said non-threadedpart offset with respect to the portions of smallest inner diameters ofsaid threaded part and having its outer diameter corresponding to theportions of the largest diameters of said threaded part, said partscoacting to provide a support for a combined securing and sealing mediumfor the lens adapted to be positioned in said .body and further actingas a seal for said threaded part.

-' In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

HERMAN FREDERICK DELMANHORST.

threaded part and a non-threaded part, said threaded part in lengthwisesection being of greater length than said non-threaded part, a lens bodyextending into and projecting *from said holder, said non-threaded partar-

